Wednesday, 31 December 2014

Goodbye 2014… Hello 2015

Another year flies by and this has been a year that will stick in my mind for many yet to come. From a hobby perspective this year was definitely a quiet one, but one that I think will finally see the end of my 40k aspirations.

2014 began with our unquenchable thirst for Blood Bowl. I can genuinely say that I have not been as excited by the hobby in a long time as I was for playing BB. In fact, it has to be said that Blood Bowl consumed me all the way up to Salute.

Behind the scenes I had been working on the miniatures board game Aetherium and, as the kickstarter began around the time of Salute, it was announced to the world. This was an experience I will not forget easily. Very exciting times and I wish Brian and the Anvil Eight guys all the very best.

Post Salute my attention was turned towards a secret project of my own devising, Normans vs Rangers (we will call it for now). It has been sitting in the back of my mind ever since and is currently the only light on the horizon for the painting table.

Then the summer brought us 7th Edition 40k. I will admit to being skeptical from the off and, despite purchasing the rulebook(s) was never fully convinced. We spent the summer months on a multi-game campaign to give Bull's Orks a run out and me a chance to start a new marine chapter. My Imperial Fists never really got out of the gate and I reverted to my chaos minions to fill the campaign void. We had some fun but ultimately never got to complete the final chapter.

In the meantime, Zombicide snuck in under the radar and has the potential to become something of a favourite. In a similar vein to Blood Bowl it has a certain longevity and will no doubt feature again on the blog in the coming year.

Autumn saw me get totally mugged by plastic shiny things, thanks to Tabletop Workshop. First their Monastic Scenery set arrived at the door, followed by the wonderful plastic castle… which I have yet to complete.

As a means to fill the hobby void, I spent large parts of October and November illustrating some of the basics of designing a rulebook, from the perspective of a graphic designer. I have to say I really enjoyed this, even though it only skimmed the surface, and it made a pleasant departure at a time where spare time was scarce.

That's pretty much where the hobby year ended – rather quiet by previous years. But little was I to know how this year would truly be defined.

++++++++++

The year had already been monumental for me and my wife. We were due to move house in January, which fell through. We were also in the middle of becoming approved adoptive parents, though this too would fall through. We discovered in April that we were going to have our own baby and this was swiftly followed by moving to an even better house that we had previously missed out on. Just before moving I got a new, full time job which has been a breath of fresh air – it's been non-stop life changing events in 2014.

With our son due at the beginning of December the latter half of the year has been happy, exciting times despite hardly having five minutes to devote to hobby things, preparing for his arrival. The anticipation reached fever pitch as November rolled into December. His due date came and went and it became apparent that we would have to go into hospital to be induced – he was just too comfy in there.

What has happened in the time since I would not wish on my worst enemy. We have endured a terribly distressing time, not least when I thought I had lost both my wife and my son in the operating theatre. Yet, Finn Henry William Reynolds was born on 21st December and despite suffering severe distress and oxygen deprivation he has fought his way back from the brink and made us very proud parents. He is no longer in intensive care and could even be home with us by the weekend, which is nothing short of a miracle.

At the risk of sounding over-dramatic, I can say hand on heart that I am not the same person I was a fortnight ago. I used to think that lots of things mattered, but they don't, and this experience has given me a clear perspective for the future. We didn't have much of a Christmas this year but New Year is becoming truly special.

So with that in mind I wish you all the best for the New Year and hope that we can all make some solid resolutions for 2015, both in the hobby and life outside.

Oh dear God Mike, what an end to the year. I had been desperate for news, but when I heard nothing I was worried about asking - stupid really. I am so very pleased to hear that you are all now on the mend and will soon be reunited at home - my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Mike, I'm so very relieved everything has turned out fine for the birth of your new son - heartfelt congratulations to you and your wife - a very stressful time when everything goes well, so yours must have been a nightmare of the worst kind.

BUT on the upside, you, your wife and wonderful new baby boy have all come through it. So from the bottom of my heart, I wish you and your wife and baby boy an amazing year ahead for 2015, and the rest to follow.

And you do know, don't you, that if you need us - the blogites, I'm referring to now - we're all here for you whenever, my friend. Always remember that.

What an end to the year. I hope to see 2015 bring you much joy and happiness with the family. With everyone being healthy and able to do many things, hobby stuff perhaps being one of them. Look forward to the days when you post up about how you and your son are painting or playing together.. it will happen. All the best.. Mr Lee!

I wish you all the best Mike, as the proud father of a 21 month old daughter I can tell you that the next year will be one of constant surprises, and achievements you never thought possible. I'm sorry to hear you're drifting away from 40k, but will keep an eager eye on your blog to see how you're getting on!

Thanks Nick. To be fair, 40k has not really been my bag for a number of years, it's just now that time is so much more precious I won't waste it on things I don't enjoy doing (I have enough chores in my life already). Hopefully once things settle I will be posting more genuine hobby things again.